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MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2002

Indian gaming has not helped the majority of Indian Country, The Daily Oklahoman says in an editorial.

"Casinos have made some individual Indians rich, and their investors even richer," the paper says.

The paper is responding to a controversial TIME magazine article that says Indian gaming has been a failure. The report cites high-paid lobbyists and non-Indian investors as reasons why casinos have failed to bring riches to the majority of Native Americans.

Oklahoma allows bingo and bingo-like games but not the more lucrative slot machines, card games and related offerings. The paper warns that if a lottery is legalized, tribes won't have to share their profits with the state.

But some state officials are calling on the tribes to share their bingo money anyway. State schools Superintendent Sandy Garrett said the revenues will help pay for public education.

Get the Story:
Oklahoman Editorial: Indian Casinos Deal Big Profits to Few (The Daily Oklahoman 12/14)
Compacts considered to help fund education (The Daily Oklahoman 12/15)

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